Heat-exchange apparatus



April 7, 1931 H. LEACH HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Filed oct. 26, 192e y 2 sheetsfsheet 1 WM mw NNW Bm. WLQW \N| @Nl o o 5 O O O D o o o f o o m. O\\ l/G G o April 7, 1931. c. H. LEAcH 1,799,471

" HEAT EXCHANGE APPARATUS Fired oct. ze, l 192e 2 sheets-snaai 2 a 'if 1e .lllhurllll Patented Apr. 7, 1931 CHARLES HAROLD LEACH, OF NEWTON HGHLANDS, MASSACHUSETTS HEAT-EXCHANGE APPARATUS'.

Application filed October 26, 1926. Serial No. 144,233.

The present invention relatesto heat exchange apparatus and more particularly toapparatus of this character well adapt-ed for the purpose of usefully recoveringr heat from the residuum resulting from the refining. of

crude petroleum oils.

The object of the present invention is to reorganize and improve apparatus 'of this character in order to adapt it particularly to the problems encountered in the handling of petroleum oils.

With this and other objects in view the various features of the invention, all of which contribute to the new and improved result,

'15 will be more fully described hereinafter. In-

cidentally, certain of the features of the present invention are adapted for the improvement of heatl exchange apparatus in general in addition to improving the efficiency and operation of such apparatus inl connection with the refining of petroleum oil.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating the preferred form of the invention,

Fig.r 1 represents an elevation partly in section of a heat exchange apparatus embodying the featuresvof the. invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the shell and baiies foreshortened in length;A and Fig. 3 is a cross section of the shell upon the line 33r of Fig. 2.

The heat exchanger shown in the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises a tubular shell 10 having annular attaching flanges 12 and 14 at opposite ends. Each attaching flange is riveted to the shell as indicated at 16.

. At one end the shell is .provided withaa tubewsupporting headJ 18 which may be a casting of iron or steel provided with an attaching fiange 2O connected to the fiange 14 by bolts 22. The head 18 is provided with an integral web 24- in which are mounted a series of tube bundles indicated respectively at 26. Each of these tube bundles, as will be evident, consists of a series of relatively thin wall tubes adapted for the. intercommunicat'ion of heat between the space surrounding the tubes and the interior of the tubes. The web24 is provided upon the tube side with integral partitions or baffles .28 which cooperate with sheet baffies 30 to provide longitudinal passes for the hot oil residuum. On the opposite side the web is provided with integral partitions 32 which provide passages for directing the fiow of one or more cooling mediums through the interiorof the tubes, the cooling medium or mediums passing lengthwise of the tubes through-the chambers or passages 34 formed at one side of the web 24, as indicated clearly in Fig. l. Each tube bundle is connected at the end opposite the supporting head to a separate oating head 36 which is provided with a cover member 38 for sealing the tube bundle and returning the flow of cooling medium from a portion of the tubes in the bundle in a counter direction through the remaining tubes. With this connection it will be evident from an inspection of Fig. 1 that the upper partition 32 causes a cooling-medium to enter the lower tubes in the upper bundle and flow through these tubes from right to left. Thereafter the chamber formed in the upper floating head returns the cooling medium through the remaining tubes in the upper portion of the bundle, the direction of flow being from left to right, thisoperation being duplicated in the remaining tube bundles. Due to the control of the flow, the tubes in each bundle expand and contract in substantially the same manner so that undue strains are not imposed on either the `Heating heads or the unitary tube supporting head. In addition to the `"relatively thin sheet baffies 30 extending lengthwise through each tube bundle, additional baflies 40 are -inv85 terposed between the tube bundles, these baffles being preferably of zigzag formation in order to create a surge in the liquid owing about the exterior of the .tubes and cause'a 4thorough intermingling ofthis liquid with 90 thatk portion of the tube bundle su ported above each baiie 40. Each of the b afes 40 is also provided with anextension 42 projecting l between each two adjacent floating heads and serving as a support upon which each fioating Y head thereabove may slide freely during the expansion and contraction of the tube bundle to which it is connected. The zig-zag bafiies are supported by angle brackets 44 spaced at the desired intervals and` connected to in-` ner wall sections 48. In addition to being .supported by angle brackets 44, both the zig-zag balles and the extensions 42 are rigidly connected along opposite edges by welded .areas indicated at 43. In the case'of the zig-zag baffles, these welded areasconnect the edges of the bailes with the inner wall section, whereas in the case of the extensions the welded areas are formed upon the outer shell. With this construction it will be evident that the baffles are rigidly retained in the proper relation. As indicated, the i11- ner wall sections are spaced from opposite sides of the shell to provide a double wall encompassing an insulating space. Each of these sections, as indicated in Fig. 3, comprises ya straight portion with out-turned upper and lower flanges 50 which engage the outer sides of the straight baffles 30 between them, the flange port-ions of the sides and the edges of the ballles being-rigidly connected by bolt-s`52. rigid and accurate spacing of the bales with relation to the shell and to one another. Furthermore the space encompassed by the double side wall serves to insulate the relatively hot` oil passing through the intertubular space and prevent loss of heat through the walls of the shell. Furthermore the relatively hot oil which may be an active corrosive agent is separated from the surface of the shell, and corrosion of the shell thereby is accordingly minimized. `The wall sectionssealing gasket between the flanges 14 and 20 may be re laced. The shell is provided at one' end o the wall section with vertically ldisposed an le brackets 53 which serve to close one en of the insulating space encompassed b theinner wall sections, thus forming a stlllgbody ofv oilin this :spacewhich tserves as an'excellent insulating medium. In

l addition to ithe insulating space extending vthroughout" the sides ofthe shell, thelatter at its upper and lower portionsis provided with a series of transverse angle. bars 60 which, as indicated cle'arl in Figs. --2 and 3,

extend across the top and ttom of theshell and partially throughout the sides to points adjacent the upper and-lower bailles. Thesev transverse angles not only reinforce the shell' but also serve as baiiles tending to interfere l with the flow of oil lengthwise of the shell and adjacent to the surface, thus providing an insulating effect due to the relatively This construction provides a wai-eas.

slower moving bodyof oil throughout the upper and lower areas of the shell. The wall sections and interconnected baliles are rigidly supported upon the side walls of the. l shell by parallel angle brackets 62 extending pleted heat exchanger, and permits a much f' closer and more compact arrangement of tubes and baffles than could otherwise be secured. In actual practice the zig-zag bales 40 together with the intermediate straight bailles 30 are assembled and rigidly connected to the inner side wall sections 48. Informing this assembly the extensions 42 are riveted to vthe ends of the ballles 40 and extend therefrom, supported only along the riveted This assembly is then inserted lengthwise within the shell, the position being controlled by the upperand lower longitudinal brackets 62 which serve as tracks or guides. At the Sallie time the upper and lower sheet baffles 30 are loosely assembled therewith. The entire assembly may then be connected to the brackets by bolts or rivets, as indicated at 52. Having thus rigidly assembled the above structure within the shell, the extensions 42-are then warped, if necessary, into accurate alignment with one another and with the shell, and rigidly welded to the shell at opposite edges to preserve the spaced relationship. Thereafter the floating heads are mounted upon or in proper relation to the extensions and the shell, the head casting connected to the opposite end of the shell and the tubesinsertedand flanged in place.

The apparatus is sol designed that the hot liquidy from which heat is .to be extracted enters the intertubular space at the upper portion of the shell, and after being repeat- Vedly passed back and forth lengthwise of the tubes is discharged at the-lower portion of theshell. In this manner the .flow follows the path of least resistance, the hot residuum as it is cooled `by its passage 'lengthwise of the tubes descending by gravity to the bottom of. the shell; In the.illustratedembodiment of thek invention,\the inlet for hot oil is indicated a't landrth'e-outlet isindicatedat 65. The inlet is formed integral with thecasting 18 and is provided with a bolting flange 63. 'It-communicates with the intertubular space between the upper baille and the top of the shell. The outlet isformed ina similar manner with a bolting flange 64 andcomm-uni- Cates with the lowest portion of the intertubular space below the lowermost` baille. With thisl construction the hot oil first flows from right to left above the upper baille, thence downwardly between the end of the baille and the adjacent floating head, and then cover maybe from left to right above the zigzag baille 40 in contact with the lower half of the upper tube bundle. Thereafter upon reaching the end of the zig-zag battle the oil discharges downwardly and the operation is repeated. lVith this construction the heat is effectually extracted from the hot residuum before the latter is discharged from .the outlet 65. In the usual practice the connection from the out-let extends upwardly to a. point at least as high as the upper portion of the shell, thus insuring that the shell at all times shall be completely filled with hot liquid. It will furthermore be evident that both of the connections from the hot oil are formed in the head casting, in this manner permitting the shell to be disconnected and partially withdrawn without requiring that the pipe connections which connnunicate with the inlet and out-let be dismantled. The end ot the shell opposite the tube support is closed by a cover member 70 provided with a bolting 'liange 72 which isconnected with the shell# flange l2 by bolts 74. The space within the sealed by a gasket 76 of any desired type. Upon removal of the'cover, access to the interior of the tubes may be had through a series of plugs 78, each threaded within the cover 38 closing a floating head. By removing each of the plugs 78 and connecting a pressure -line withtlie opening, the interior of the tubes may be cleaned or washed out very simply. By* utilizing the floating head as a connection for the pressure line, a series oftnbes may be cleaned interiorly at one time without the necessity of individually connecting the line to separate tubes. As will be evident, the connection of a pressure, line to plug 78 accompanied by an opening of the proper plug 110 in the cover 87 determines which half of the tube bundle shall be flushed out. In addition to the means l for cleaningthe interior of the tubes, the

shell 1() adjacent the flange 12 is provided with a series of bosses 80, each provided with a removable plug 82 which form openings, permitting access to the space surrounding the tubes for any .purpose which may be desired. These openings or peep-holes, as indicated, are spaced at uniform intervals about the circumference of the shell adjacent the loatingheadsnd theconnection ofthetubes thereto.

The flow ot cooling medium through the interior of the tubes is controlled through a series of guiding partitions formed both upon the unitary tube support and upon a detachable cover member. As indicated more particularly in Fig. 1. the integral partit-ions32 projecting from the web 2&1 cooperate with ribs 85 formed integral with a cover member 87 to provide passages for properly controlling the flow ot cooling medium with respect to dii'lerent tube series and bundles: .For the i purpose of cooperating with the guiding partitions,- the tube supporting head 18 is provided withl a series of inlet andoutlet connections disposed in the proper relation to give, in combination with the cover member, any desired character of flow. For example, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings, an inlet noZ- zle 90 is formed at the lowermost portion of the head and an outlet nozzle 92 is formed upon the opposite side of the head slightly above. In like manner an additional inlet nozzle 94 and a third nozzle, not shown, are located at spaced intervals upon the head and cooperate with outlet nozzles 96 and 98, as indicated in dotted lines. It all of these nozzles are connected to sources of cooling fluid flow, eachv cooling medium will make two passes through the tube. In other words, each cooling medium will pass in one direction through halt of the tubes in a bundle. and will thereafter return through the remaining halt` ofthe tube bundle located above the separating battles. With all of then'ozzles connected for operation, thecover member will be provided with a series of partitions 85 equal in number to the partitions 32 to form a series of closed chambers communicating only with the nozzles vand the interior of the tubes. In the construction shown in Fig. 1, the cover member is adapted for controlling the flow of two cooling mediums, one me diurn, such as water, being delivered through the nozzle 9() and discharged through the nozzle 92 after passing twice through the tubes, and a second medium, such`as cold charge oil. being delivered through the nozzle 94 and discharged through the nozzle 98 after passing i'our times through the interior of the tube series. outlet nozzle 96 and the upper inlet nozzle (not shown) are closed ofi', the. charge oil belVith this character of flow, the

ing directed from the chamber 100 into the chamber 102, as indicated by the arrow in Fig. l, through an open' passage formed about Ithe end of one of the partitions 32. This passage is preferably formed by a series oi separate spools or bosses ,104 extending from the cover member and contacting with. enlargements 106 formed upon the free end of the partition, the spaces between these bosses providingl a passage for the oil, as will be evident. The interior of the 4ciilargements 106 is threaded to provide for the reception of retaining bolts 108 which rigidly connect the cover member, intermediate the edge, to the supporting head. The purpose of these intermediate bolts, which extend across the cover vmember intermediate the edges, is to insure a close joint between the cooperating ribs 32 and 85 and prevent any intercommumcation between the closed chambers. Thus, it water is used as one'cooling medium and oil as a second, there isno possibility of communication or leakage of waterinto the oil chamber, or vice versa. From an inspection of the drawings it will be evidenti that by reversing the cover member and properly connecting the cooling medium inlets and outlets, a variation of the path of flow may be effected without altering the construction; or in other words, one medium may be caused to ass four times through the lower banks of tu es, and a final cooling medium twice through the upper bank of tubes instead ofthe path of flow hereinbefore described. 'It will alsobe evident that by providing dilferent cover members, any desired character of flow may be secured. The cover member, as indicated, is provided with a series of plugs 110 thread-` ed therein which communicate with the several chambers to provide for access thereto and cleaning of the chambers in the interior of the tubes as previously described. In addition, the head 18 adjacent the web 24 is provided with aseriesof plugs 1,12 to close openings communicating with the intertubular space adjacent the web, these openings serving in conjunction with the similar openings located in the opposite end of the shell, to permit access for cleaning the interior of the intertubular space without dismantling the apparatus. The shell is reinforced about its outer periphery by a series of spaced angles` 115 which extend circumferentially thereabout and are welded thereto by areas 116. The apparatus is normally supported in a horizontal position by feet or brackets 120, 121 mounted respectively on one end ofthe shell and the mid portion of the supporting head, these feet being connected to abutments '122, as indicated. With the construction. as

described, itwill be evident that the snpports for the apparatus as a whole are located in each ca'se immediatelybeneath'thev regions of support for opposite ends oftne tube bundles. For example, one end of the tube bundles is connected to the unltary web formed, in the head casting beneath which is located the foot 121. The opposite ends of -the bundles are supported by the individual floating heads, which in turn are supported by the extension slides 42 and the lower portion of the shell. These extension 4slides are rigidly welded to the shell in the region of thefloatingheads and immediately above the foot 120. The result is to support the entire assembly in a manner to prevent distortion or warping, eitherof the shell o1theindividual tubes constituting the bundles. Furthermore it will be evident that by virtue of this form of construction, each floating head with the portion of .the tube bundle carried thereby 1s' supported directly from the rigid shell rather than from the head beneath, the load being transmitted through the extensions 42 to the wall of the shell. Not only does this prevent distortion of the tubes, due to non-alignmenl; of the heads, but in addition strains upon the tubesl themselves, and theconnection :between the tubes and floating heads is greatly minlmized, due to'the fact that eachl head is perters the upper portion of the shell and flows l downwardly, and the cooling medium entering at the lower portion of the shell flows upwardly and in a counter direction at all times to the How of the hot residuum. The result of. this construction is to provide a controllable, and if desired substantially constant temperature difference at all oints of flow between the hot vand cold mediums. As will be evident, this result is obtained through the employment of the longitudinal bailies separating the intertubular space into a series of longitudinal passes which cooperate with the partitions inthe head controlling the flow ot cooling medium through the tubes. For example, referring to the upper bundle of tubes. the cooling medium flowing through the lower half of the bundle, from right to left, encounters hot resi'duum flowing liquid passes which coincide with the cooling medium passages formed by the partitions 32.

What I claim is: 1. HeatV exchange apparatus comprising a plurality of ktube bundles, a single unitary head connected with one end of-all of the tube bundles, afloatino' head'connected t0 the opposite end of eac tube bundle, a horizontal shell lenclosing thetube bundles and floating heads, and means rigidly connected with the shell adjacent the floating heads and forming 'a sliding support therefor.

2. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a Vpluralityfof tubebundles, a single unitary lhead connected with one end of all of the tube bundles, a floating head connectedA to thev opposite end of each tube bundle, a horizontal shell enclosing the tube bundles and floating heads, and a series of partitions connected rigidly with the shell and supporting the free ends of the tube bundles and connected floating heads in a manner to permit sliding movement thereover..

3. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a plurality of tube bundles, a single unitary head connected with one end of all of the tube bundles, a floating head connected to the opposite end of each tube bundle, a. horizontal shell enclosing the tube bundles and floating heads, means yfor` su porting each floating ported within the shell, means sliding movement independent of the other heads, and means for supporting the shell. in the region of support for the floating heads.

4. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a series of separated baille members, means for rigidly1 connecting the baffle members in. spaced relation, a shell, means for supporting the baille assembly within the shell, a series of tube bundles extending longitudinally within the baflle assembly, a unitary support for one end of all of the tube bundles, a floating-head connected to the opposite end of each tube bundle, and means connected with' the baille assembly and shell for supporting each floating head and the adjacent portion of the tube bundle connected thereto.

5. Heat exchange apparatus comprising an elongated shell, a head connected to one end of the shell, a plurality of banks of tubes supfor directing cooling medium through the tubes, means for directing heating medium in a-series of passes lengthwise of the exterior of the tubes, means for impeding the flow of the heating medium4 adjacent theY shell, and inlet and outlet connections for the heating medium communicating with opposite sides of the-head.

(5. Heat exchange apparatus compri-sing an elongated shell, a head connected to one end of the shell and comprising a circumferential outer flange with an intermediate transverse web, a plurality of tubes connected to the web and extending lengthwise of the shell, a plurality of floating heads connected to opposite ends of the tubes, means for forming a series of passes lengthwise of the exterior of the tubes', inlet and outlet connections formed in the circumferential flange upon the tube side of the web, and inlet and outlet connections for cooling medium formed in the flange upon the opposite side of the web.

7. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a substantially horizontal casing closed at opposite ends, a pluralityof tubes supported within the casing and extending lengthwise thereof, a unitary support connected tothe j tubes at one end, a series, of independent floating heads connected to the site ends, a series of baffle plates tubes at the opporigidly supported at their outer margins and interposed between the floating heads to form passes lengthwise of the exterior of the tubes vand supports for the floating heads. v

8. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a head provided with a unitary tube support, a

series of banks of'tubes connected to the sup-Y port, ashell connected to the head and enclosing the tubes, a floating head connected to the opposite end of each bank of tubes, means connected to the shell for enclosing the floating heads, a baille connected to the shell and extending lengthwise between each two adj acent banks of tubes and floating heads partway toward the unitarysupport, a-,cooperating baille extending from the unitary support partway toward the floating head and intermediate each bank of tubes, and means for admitting heating medium to the intertubular space enclosed bythe shell.-

9. Heatexehange apparatus comprising an enclosing shell, a series of banks of tubes contained within thel shell, means at opposite ends of the tubes for directing cooling medium therethrough, means for conducting heating medium toand from the space about the tubes 'enclosed by the shell, means for causing the heating medium to traverse lengthwise of the tubes, and impeding ribs extending inwardly from the shell and designed to retard the flow of heating medium adjacent the shell to provide an insulating eec 10. Heat exchange apparatus comprising an enclosing shell, a series of banks of tubes contained within the shell, means at opposite ends of the tubes for directing cooling medium therethrough, means for conducting heating medium to and. from the space about .the tubes enclosed by the shell, means for causing the heating medium to traverse lengthwise of the tubes, inner wall sections spaced from the shell, and means lfor substantially preventing the flow of heating medium through the space between the shell and inner wall sections.

1l. Heat exchange apparatus comprising an enclosing shell, a series of banks'of tubes contained Within the shell, means at opposite ends of the tubes for'directing cooling medium therethrough, means ing medium to and fromthe space about the tubes enclosed by the shell, means for causing the heating medium to traverse lengthwise of the tubes, inner wall sections spaced from the shell, and means for closing the space between the shell and inner wall sections at' one end.

l2. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a shell, a plurality of banks of tubes supported within the shell and extending lengthwise, a unitary support for the tubes at one end, a floating head connected to each bank of tubes at the opposite end, ,meansl for conducting heating medium to and from the intertubular space enclosed by the shell, and means lofor conducting heat- Y cated in the annular space between the banks of tubes and shell for substantially confining the flow of heating medium to the region immediately adjacent to the tubes themselves.

13. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a series of banks of tubes, a unitary support connected at one end of the tubes, a floating head connected to each bank at the opposite end, means for 'enclosing all yof the tubes,

means for conducting heating medium to and from the enclosed space about the tubes, means for compelling the flow of heating medium in a series ofpasses lengthwise of the tubes and for directing the flow of heating medium from the space intermediate adjacent banks into theV space encompassed by the tubes of each bank..

14. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a supporting head, a plurality of tubes connected at one end to the head, a shell detachably connected to the head and enclosing the tubes, means for conducting heating medium to and from the interior of the shell, and a series of baiiles connected to the shell topform passes lengthwise of the tubes, the baiiies being constructed'and arranged to permit disconnection and partial withdrawal of the shell from the head lengthwise of the tubes without disconnecting-either the bailles or the tubes.

15. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a tubular shell, a head detachably connected to the shell at one end having a tube supporting member, a series of banks of tubes connected at one end to thelimember, a supporting head connected' to the opposite end of each bank. a series of baies connected to the shell and disposed alternately intermediate the upper and lower portions of each bank and between banks of tubes, the intermediate bafiie extending partWay toward the floating head and the adjacent baiile between the banks extending from between the floating heads partway toward the unitary support. connections between the baiiles and shell. and means formed in the head for conducting heating medium to and from the interior of the space enclosed by the shell.

16. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a head, a plurality of tubes connected at one end to the head, a shell enclosing the tubes, connections between the shell land head, 35 means for directing cooling medium through the interior of the ing heating medium to and from. the interior of the shell about the tubes, and `means located at opposite ends of the intertubular space lfor gaining access to the space and cleaning the exterior of the tubes.

17. Heat exchange apparatus comprisinga tubular head provided with an intermediate transverse partition, a plurality of tubes connected at one end to the partition, a series ot' floating heads connected 'at the opposite ends of the tubes, a shell connected to the head at one side of the partition and enclos,- iug the tubes, inlet the head upon the tube side of the partition for conducting heating medium to and. from the space enclosed by the shell, a head deta/chably closing the opposite end of the shell, a cover ,member detacliably connected 55 to the head on the opposite side of the partition from the tubes, a series :of partitions formed respectively on the partition and cover memberto'provide passages for the flow of cooling medium, and inlet and outlet 60 connections .formed in the head and commu-A nicating with the passages to provide a selective control for the flow of cooling medium.

18. Heat exchange apparatus comprising tubes, means for conductsupport, a oating head connected to the opposite end of each bank of tubes, a shell connecting the head and enclosing the tubes, and a baiiie of zig-zag formation extending lengthwise between adjacent banks of tubes substantially filling the space therebetween to confine the lengthwise flow of heating medium to the tube bank.

19. Heat exchange apparatus comprising a shell, a head connected at one end of the shell having a tube supporting member, a

space encompassed by the plurality of banks of tubes connected to themember, a floating head connected to the opposite ends of each bank and having a sealed chamber directing iiow of cooling medium through the interior of the tiibes, means for introducing cooling medium into the opposite vends of the tubes, removable means affording access to the interior of each ioating head for cleaning the interior of the tubes, and removable means at the opposite side of the tube supporting member cooperating with the first-mentioned means for cleaning the interior of the tubes.

20. Heat exchange apparatus comprising `a shell, a head connected at one e'nd to the and outlet connections in v i a head having a transverse tube support,-a

plurality of banks lof tubes connected to the 

